HOW THESE CRICKETERS LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8371, 11 January 1894, Page 2

HOW THESE CRICKETERS LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

The Australasian Cricket Council failed to elicit any further information from the members of the Australian Eleven in reference to the statements made public concerning the dissensions in the team during the English tour. Turner, Mr Cohen, and others who previously made distinot assertions fully corroborating charges previously made by Trumble against certain members of the team, positively declined to add anything thereto, and it was very evident that the members considered the dissension secondary in importance to the more recently ventilated financial dispute betweon them and the manager. Neither Mr Cohen nor Turner withdrew a single statement made by them, and Mr Cohen went to the extent of admitting tbat it was positively stated by those in authority at Lord's that it would not be advisable for certain members of the team to again visit England as representatives of Australia. This was tho outcome of a disgraceful brawl and " slanging matoh " across the luncheon table at Lord's between two Australians, which continued uofcil the captain of the M.O.C. team and Mr Jenkins, Secretary of the Marylobone Club interfered and asked how much longer it was to continue. Leading Middlesex amateurs were absent without explanation from tho following match between that county and the Australians. The prevalent feeling amongst the members of the team was evidently that as tne tour was now over it was not worth while stirring up dirty water.

The Age says this may be an easy way for each man to avoid the personal responsibility of exposing the few who disgraced not only the whole team but Australian cricket generally ; but such negative action, instead of satisfying the public mind, will simply intensify the unfavourable impression first made by the accusations of such p. disinterested authority as Trumble, and subsequently emphasised by distinct statements by other members Loyalty to comrades who are worthy of the name is no doubt a most commendable attribute, but surely it is stretching esprit de corps when comment is suppressed upon the introduction to the reserve at Manchester, of notoriously disreputable characters, whose retirement hod to bo insisted on by the local authorities. Such incidents had doubtleas most to do with the bad impression oreated socially, and there would have been nothing unmanly in any member of team taking step 3 whioh would lead to the just censure of the offenders. This is the first occasion upon which these two damaging occurrences have been mode distinctly pnblio, and there would have been no necessity for such publicity had not an attempt been made to discredit the charges of mis< behaviour which were made against certain members. If either of the incident* above referred to has been mis-stated or exaggerated, it is open to anybody who foels oompetent to make a public denial or cxpanation to do so. Reference was made to the discovery by Coningham of a dead drunk comrade lying early in the morning •wjth his head on a mat and his feet up the stain. As no name has been mentioned, MoLeod asked whether individual members of tbe team would be allowed to proclaim their innocence, and permission being given each in turn de-tad the soft impeachment. Coningham was not present, being in Queensland, hut there is no suggestion of tho likelihood of his being indicted for perjury or slander. All that the Council could do was to pass a resolution regretting that no decision could be arrived at, as tho gentleman who made the statements reflecting on tho conduct of the team declined to render assistance or famish any evidence. Tha suggestion that the members of the team should be exonerated from tha charge of Biisoonduct was significantly dismissed*

The tttiqles now to be seen at the establishment of B. Moult, in tbe Avenue, are so varied and beautiful it is impossible to enumerate them. Call and see the stock younelfsnd. you will ho 98toni»h«(J.— Adt»